SWEET GRACIOUSNESS
John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Grace is sweet like honey, but grace must also be accompanied by truth which is the salt. Colossians 4:6 says: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Gracious words are not harsh, brash, and cutting. Gracious words are not judgmental, condemning, and cold. Rather, gracious words are sweet, uplifting, and life-giving.
Proverbs 18:21: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.” Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible says: “Death and life are much determined by the power of the tongue and he that uses this power rightly shall live because of it.”
Proverbs 10:11: “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.”
Proverbs 10:20: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver.”
Proverbs 10:21: “The lips of the righteous feed many.”
Luke 4:22: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.” Men, grace in itself is a beautiful virtue. It’s nice to be around. It’s not a passive virtue; it not only looks beautiful, but speaks beautifully. It is helpful, loving, encouraging, and healing speech.
Grace also affects our walk. It gets into our feet and takes us to where people sit in darkness to give them the light of Christ. Matthew 4:16 says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Grace affects our hands. We caress and comfort the wounded souls. We lay hands on the sick n the name of Jesus to bring healing. Grace brings sweet and understanding smiles to our faces to light up the world.
Have you ever wondered why God created beautiful roses in the midst of thorns? Did He do it to protect the rose? Perhaps, but I think here is a deeper and more mysterious answer. Truth can be like thorns that lovingly prick our conscience and expose our sinfulness so that we will repent. We are all attracted to Christ, the beautiful Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1), but at the same time we all need to be lovingly pricked by the thorns of truth. We need to be convicted of the sins that hold us back from being like Christ, the beautiful rose. Another wonderful thing about roses is their exotic, sweet, rich fragrance.
Men, it is high time for us to be the strongest, and yet the most sweetest men on planet earth. Surrounded by the thorns of loving truth, sweet graciousness will make others attracted to the Rose of all Roses who lives within us. Ephesians 4:15 says:” “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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